Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-28
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Allen. in the Globe Democrat, OF St
Iouie. calls attention to gentleman
who might successfully contest Tor
hopors in that line. II was at the great
firemen's convention in 1882. !.
At last Jack Cannon, fireman Oh
Pittsburgh, engineered No. =. through
the courtesy due distinguished visitor,
was invited to give an experience OF
his own. He was a tall, manly young
fellow, with an eye like hawks and
voice like Edwin Booths. As he told
his story we gathered about him almost
unconsciously, and this is what ne
said
"a couple of years ago, while run.
ming on the Pennsylvania railroad,
FIRST met Borden Hunt, the smartest
and nerviest little man that ever pulled
fast express. He was one OF the en-.
cineers that always made his time, and
after got to running with him as fire.
man on the Pacific express l often held
nv breath as he swung the great train
srourd sudden curve or through
roaring and rafting tunnel.
Eve had orders for Hunt to take his
engine again, and it seemed as If Old
SO knew the hand at the lever as we
lett the yard. Anyway she got so
risky we jammed too hard into the
postal car ard broke the coupling OF
the engine so badly there was no way
but to leave the train and run to Al
toona for repairs. We left on the time
of the Pacific express, with orders to
run on its schedule all the way ahead
of it.
"Hunt's spirits fell at the accident,
and all the way he seemed to be over
careful and nervous, and not himself.
Towards 10 o'clock, as we left Green's
burg, he seemed to act as il half afraid
to open the throttle, and finally told
me he felt sure that something was go
ing to happen. laughed at his fears
to cheer HIM up, but began to feel un-
easy myself. IN engineer is always
looking for something that he
doesn't want to see, and at
every curve and tunnel / saw Hunt
hold his breath till the straight track
showed ahead. But We ratified along on
the outer line of the four broad tracks,
and 10y noon were past Gallitzin and
skimming down the grade. We made
the magnificent mountain curve over
looking the grandest scenery in the
State, swung around the Horseshoe,
and soon were in sight of the hill that
sloped to the house of the engineer.
Hunt seemed more than aver nervous,
end bis countcnance fell as we saw on
the curve a long train stalled and
shutting the cottage out of sight.
60. Jack, be said, / would give 500
If the run was made | didn't answer,
for we both were looking ahead, though
the standing train hid most OF the track
from sight. We were rushing down
grade a mile a minute, and the gauge
showed l2G pounds We shot like an
arrow by the freight, with q roar and
rumble of wheels, and past the hind
most car into sight of the long, straight
read
Jack stopped and caught his breath
in the effort TO control his feelings-hls
voice ringing with excitement, like IN
overssrung chord. Ne listened, pain
fully. and bartholomew reused from
his apathy as lie continued
and what / saw" he said, "was
worse than death itself Not twenty
rods ahead, between the shining rails
that stretched from under us, sat little
girl-Hunt's little girl-holding above
her head a cluster Of lilies and other
flowers, a smile on her clear white face,
and a laugh that rang from her pretty
lips. Hunt saw her too, and be knew,
with the lightning thought of an en-
gineer, that before she could move
or the massive engine even slack
her speed, it wonld all be over.
In that quick instant | saw that
Hunt stood like q frozen man, his hand
on the lever, and / wondered in the
same fash of thought that he did not
set the air-brakes tighter, as the only
attempt he could make to prevent a
certain tragedy. And then We wers
only fifty feet away--forty-thirty-
twenty-and the child smiled on and
played with the spotted lilies and the
sprays OF buttercups. Then Hunt, with
a trap-like motion, threw off the half
set brakes and opened the throttle
wide to the l20 pounds of steam,
falling stark and stiff in fit
as the ponderous, Kissing engine; ike
hunter that feels the cruel spur,
seemed to lift beneath my feet with
motion that nearly threw me down. ]
closed the air brakes with one hand and
threw the lever up with the other, then
sprang on the tender and looked back
The child sat safe and still looking
over its shoulders through "a tangle of
sunny hair, and / knew what Borden
Hunt had done. He had jumped old
SO clear over the head of the girl, and
by miracle we had struck the rails all
right again."
Jack stopped and leaned against the
impromptu bar, and we looked at each
other in kind of stupor; then, with u
sudden impulse, turned TO Chauncey
Bartholomew. Great drops of sweat
were On his face-he had tainted dead
away.
He has never told a story since.